Football helmet



March 26, 1940. H. HoLsTElN 2,194,903

FOOTBALL HELMET Filed March 6, 1939v :Iijlgggggg @fl-@ff IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 26, 1940 UNITED stares ement orifice 2,194,903 l .FOOTBALLHELMET Harvey Holstein, Huntington, W. Va.

' Application March 6, 1939, Serial No. 260,194

2 Claims.

This invention relatesto football helmets, one, of the objects being toprovide an inflatable helmet for cushioning any blows received therebyso that the force of the blow will be distributed evenly to all portionsof the inner surface of the helmet and injury to the wearer thus reducedto the minimum. l

A further object is to provide a helmet which, when not in use, can bedeated and thus compactly stored.

A further object is to provide a helmet the exposed surfaces of whichare formed of rubber so that they will not absorb moisture and acquireobjectionable` odors.

A still further object is to provide an inflatable helmet having new andimproved means for holding it in proper shape when inflated and formaintaining desired ventilation while beine.r worn.

With the foregoing and other objects in View which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details ofconstruction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully describedand pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may bemade in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing fromthe spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawing the preferred form of the invention has beenshown.

In said drawing Figure 1 is a side elevation of the helmet, a portion'ofone 0f the ear flaps being broken away.

Figure 2 is av section on line 2-2, Figure l, taken through oneV side ofthe helmet.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3, lFigure 1, taken through one side ofthe helmet.

Figure 4 is a section through one side of the helmet taken on the line 44, Figure 1.

In producing this helmet it is designed to provide a hollow Wall theouter and inner sides l and 2 of which are of sheet rubber preferablymolded to proper shape and joined to the inner surfaceA of each of thesesides is a reenforcing fabric 3 constituting a coextensive lining, the

fabric being attached to the rubber sides of the Wall by vulcanizing orin any other preferred manner. The fabric prevents the rubber fromstretching and also lends strength thereto so that danger of tearing,puncturing or otherwise injuring the helmet is materially reduced. Inthe drawing each side of the wall has been shown provided with a singlethickness of fabric lining but itis to be understood that, if preferred,each side could be built up of vtwo or more `layers of rubber andfabric. The rubber can be `molded to proper shape or otherwiseformed andthe free edge portions of the helmet are joined by a marginal binder 4vulcanized ory otherwiseatthe form of Webs having integral oppositelyex-l tending flanges E vulcanized or otherwise securely fastened to theinner surfaces of the Wall sides.v These webs 5` are formed .withapertures l so that air can flow freely through them. The webs aredisposed along linesdiverging from the center of the top of the helmettoward the f bottom or free edge thereof. These webs are so proportioned'as to restrain the walls against spreading apart too far vwhen thehelmet is'in-` hated. Further spreading of the sides is' overcome byrows of rubber vent tubes 8 `which extend through the sides of thehelmet wall,"each tube being provided at each end Withfspacedv angesSland I0 which lap the adjacent portions of the engaged wall and arevulcanized or otherfwise joined thereto. These vents provide ampleventilation through the helmet and, as before i stated, cooperate withthe webs 5 to hold the f l helmet in proper vshape when inflated. Asshown in Figures 1 and 4 the lined sides I and 2 of the helmet lwall areextended downwardly to form ear lguards G each of which is provided witha desired number of vent tubes 8 which also ypermit the passage4 ofsound waves.

Extending from one of the ear guards is a side flap Il) consisting ofspaced members I2 andA i3 vulcanized or otherwise attached to theadjacent portion of the guard and extending downwardly therefrom.'I'hese members are joined along one edge for a portion of the distancethereof, as shown at M, soas to provide a pocket l5 which can be closedby fastening 'together' the remainingedge portions of the members. Thefastening means used can'be snap-fasteners I6 "of the usual type. Thispocket is adapted to y tied, as shown at I8 in Figure 1 so as thus to besupported entirely within-the pocket Where it is out of the way. A strapI9 carrying a buckle 2l) can be joined ytoy the inner member l2 of theflap. Il and it is to be understood that the other side of the helmetcan also be provided with an ear flap which need not be constructed asshown and which can have a strap joined thereto for engagement withbuckle Ztl in the usual manner thereby to hold the helmet securely onthe head of the user. A portion of thissecond strap has been indicatedat 2l in Figure 1. v

t will be obvious that the Webs 5 and the vent tubes 8 will cooperate tohold the inner and outer sides of the helmet wall properly restrainedwhen the helmet is inflated by forcing air through tube ll after it hasbeen untied. The inflated helmet will retain its proper shape While inuse and the air contained therein will, as before stated, serve tocushion any blow that might be struck upon the outer portion of thehelmet, the force of the blow being dissipated throughout the innersurface of the helmet so that injury to the wearer will be prevented.

As the exposed surfaces of the helmet are formed of rubber, they cannotabsorb perspiration or other moisture. Furthermore they can be cleanedreadily so as not to acquire an objectionable odor. When the helmet isnot in use it can be deflated and easily rolled into a small package,folded o1' otherwise arranged for storage.

What is claimed is:

l. A one-piece helmet including a hollow, airtight wall of flexiblematerial shaped to the head of a user and providing ear guards,restraining webs interposed between and connected to opposed innersurfaces of the wall and diverging from the center of the top of thehelmet towards the free edge thereof, said Webs being apertured, andreenforcing vent tubes joining and opening through the inner and outersides of the wall between the webs.

2. A helmet including a hollow, air-tight Wall of flexible materialshaped to fit the head of a user and to provide ear guards, restrainingWebs interposed between and connected to opposed inner surfaces of thewall and diverging from the center of the top of the helmet towards thefree edge thereof, said webs being apertured, reenforcing vent tubesjoining and opening through the inner and outer sides of the wallbetween the webs, a side flap extending from the helmet and providing apocket, and an inflation tube opening into the helmet and normallyhoused within but extensible from the pocket.

HARVEY HOLSTEIN.

